Rick Mayer
Digital ProducerI’m the online producer for Health News Florida, a collaboration of public radio stations and NPR that delivers news about health care issues.
This is an important position at WUSF. In 2019, the typical U.S. family spent about 11 percent of its annual income on health care, so it stands to reason issues of cost, quality, access and innovation are consequential to all Floridians. Then COVID-19 came along, and the weight of these matters gained exponentially. I take our reporting on these topics quite seriously, as I’m sure you do, too.
Literally growing up in newsrooms and a little serendipity along the way prepared me well for the post. Here’s the abridged version: I’m a Tampa guy, graduating from H.B. Plant High and thrust into the world with my USF degree rolled tightly in hand. From there, it was three mostly sleepless decades as an editor at The Tampa Tribune, then developing and managing an online journal serving physician executives. There’s also my side job editing a statewide health magazine.
And being married to a longtime hospital nurse/case manager helps; dinner conversation often gives me a feel of what’s happening on the front lines. The good and not-so-good.
Of course, my time isn’t always spent flailing in the health news vortex. You’re actually more likely to find me breaking down the Bucs, Bulls or Bolts after a game, taking Oodle the poodle to the dog park or tinkering the backroom piano while vicariously reliving my former life as a musician. (Remember, kids: Parents of percussionists have plenty of patience. Plenty!)
Contact Rick on X @rmayer2361 or by email at Mayer1@wusf.org.
-
In a matchup of second-string QBs, USF's Gaston Moore's first college start ended in the fourth quarter due to injury while ODU's Quinn Henicle ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns. -
After years as a backup at Tennessee and USF, Gaston Moore replaces record-setter Byrum Brown, who won't play but will assist interim head coach Kevin Patrick against Old Dominion. -
The arrangement with Collegiate Athletic Solutions, a platform co‑founded by Tampa‑based Weatherford Capital, would give each school access to a $30 million line of credit while supporting conference operations. -
Robinson, a former two-time chair of the commission’s board of directors, led the county's athletics department since 2006. He replaces Rob Higgins, who became USF's CEO of Athletics. -
The largest slice is a $277.5 million package for cancer research, along with investments in emergency medical innovation and public health infrastructure. -
Brown made the decision after discussions with new head coach Brian Hartline, but he will be on the sideline assisting interim coach Kevin Patrick, according to Athletics CEO Rob Higgins. -
In the wake of the impasse with Florida Blue, Broward Health has agreed to accept insurance from Oscar Health, one of the larger carriers on the marketplace in Florida. -
The new owners, with Prospector Baseball Group, were introduced to Ken Babby over the summer before the Tampa Bay sale was complete and "quickly became attracted to the two clubs." -
Dr. Ralph Massullo won by 18 points in a district that includes Citrus, Hernando, Sumter and a portion of Pasco. The position opened in July, when Blaise Ingoglia was appointed state CFO. -
The goal of the rankings, in their fifth year, is to help expectant parents make informed decisions in consultation with their prenatal care providers.
